UN denies reports that special envoy for Syria is resigning

Earlier on Thursday, media reports cited "diplomatic sources" as revealing that de Mistura had asked the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, to relieve him of the Syria role for personal reasons, reports Xinhua.

The United Nations has rubbished media reports that the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is resigning from his post. “Media reports that Special Envoy de Mistura is resigning his post are not accurate. The Special Envoy remains fully engaged on his mission,” the UN Office of the Special Envoy for Syria said Thursday evening.

Earlier on Thursday, media reports cited “diplomatic sources” as revealing that de Mistura had asked the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, to relieve him of the Syria role for personal reasons, reports Xinhua.

Furthermore, media reports added that the UN Envoy was “disappointed” about the prospects of any progress in the political process in Syria in the near future, and he was “facing constant pressure.” De Mistura was appointed as UN Special Envoy for Syria in July 2014. His mandate will last to March 2017.